Interspecific variation in growth responses to climate and competition of five eastern tree species

Ecology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine R. Rollinson ◽  
Margot W. Kaye ◽  
Charles D. Canham
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Growth Responses

Growth responses of seven major co-occurring tree species of the northeastern United States to elevated CO2

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1479-1484 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. A. Bazzaz ◽  
J. S. Coleman ◽  
S. R. Morse
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Sugar Maple ◽  
Growth Enhancement ◽  
Black Cherry ◽  
Red Maple ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
White Pine ◽  
American Beech ◽  
Harvard Forest ◽  
Paper Birch

We examined how elevated CO2 affected the growth of seven co-occurring tree species: American beech (Fagusgrandifolia Ehrh.), paper birch (Betulapapyrifera Marsh.), black cherry (Prunusserotina Ehrh.), white pine (Pinusstrobus L.), red maple (Acerrubrum L.), sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.), and eastern hemlock (Tsugacanadensis (L.) Carr). We also tested whether the degree of shade tolerance of species and the age of seedlings affected plant responses to enhanced CO2 levels. Seedlings that were at least 1 year old, for all species except beech, were removed while dormant from Harvard Forest, Petersham, Massachusetts. Seeds of red maple and paper birch were obtained from parent trees at Harvard Forest, and seeds of American beech were obtained from a population of beeches in Nova Scotia. Seedlings and transplants were grown in one of four plant growth chambers for 60 d (beech, paper birch, red maple, black cherry) or 100 d (white pine, hemlock, sugar maple) under CO2 levels of 400 or 700 μL•L−1. Plants were then harvested for biomass and growth determinations. The results showed that the biomass of beech, paper birch, black cherry, sugar maple, and hemlock significantly increased in elevated CO2, but the biomass of red maple and white pine only marginally increased in these conditions. Furthermore, there were large differences in the magnitude of growth enhancement by increased levels of CO2 between species, so it seems reasonable to predict that one consequence of rising levels of CO2 may be to increase the competitive ability of some species relative to others. Additionally, the three species exhibiting the largest increase in growth with increased CO2 concentrations were the shade-tolerant species (i.e., beech, sugar maple, and hemlock). Thus, elevated CO2 levels may enhance the growth of relatively shade-tolerant forest trees to a greater extent than growth of shade-intolerant trees, at least under the light and nutrient conditions of this experiment. We found no evidence to suggest that the age of tree seedlings greatly affected their response to elevated CO2 concentrations.

Effects of simulated acid rain on the growth of five Brazilian tree species and anatomy of the most sensitive species (Joannesia princeps)

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luzimar Campos da Silva ◽  
Aristéa Alves Azevedo ◽  
Eldo Antônio Monteiro da Silva ◽  
Marco Antonio Oliva
Keyword(s):  
Acid Rain ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Leaf Blade ◽  
Woody Species ◽  
Leaf Damage ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Foliar Injury ◽  
Sensitive Species ◽  
Abaxial Epidermis

Seedlings and young saplings of some woody species were exposed to simulated low-pH acid rain, in order to develop a response screening for tropical tree species by determination of the symptoms of foliar injury and growth responses, as well as to identify anatomical alterations in the leaf blade of the most sensitive species. Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms, Genipa americana L., Joannesia princeps Vell., Mimosa artemisiana Heringer & Paula and Spondias dulcis Forst.f. were exposed daily to 20 min of acid rain, pH 3.0, for 10 consecutive days. The degree of leaf damage and the anatomical alterations observed were efficient parameters to determine the sensitivity to acid rain. At the end of the experiment J. princeps was the most sensitive species as determined by foliar injury and seedling growth. The degree of leaf damage was similar among the seedlings, except in S. dulcis, which showed reduced percentage of foliar injury. Necrotic and chlorotic spots on the leaf blade occurred. In the most sensitive species, J. princeps, necrotic blade tissues showed accumulation of phenolic compounds, hypertrophy and collapsed cells. Most of the structural alterations were observed in the adaxial epidermis, the palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma and the abaxial epidermis. Long-term experiments with seedlings of S. dulcis and saplings of G. integrifolia are suggested, to characterise the response of these species that presented fewer symptoms but whose growth was affected under acid rain.

Light-dependent seedling survival and growth of four tree species in Costa Rican second-growth rain forests

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Iriarte Vivar Balderrama ◽  
Robin L. Chazdon
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Light Availability ◽  
Light Transmittance ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Low Light ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Light Gradient ◽  
Second Growth ◽  
Survival And Growth

The dependence of tree seedling survival and growth on light availability was evaluated over 15 mo in three second-growth, wet forest stands (15–18 y old) in north-eastern Costa Rica. Seedlings of four canopy tree species (Dipteryx panamensis, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Virola koschnyi and Vochysia guatemalensis) were planted into four canopy treatments in three replicated stands and in a pasture site, spanning a nearly complete gradient of light availability. Survival and growth of all species increased in response to increasing light availability, but species differed in survival in shaded microsites (6–20% light transmittance) and in growth increments per light increase. Hyeronima showed the highest mortality at low light levels and the highest relative height growth increase per light increase. In contrast, Virola showed high survival at low and moderate light, but showed the lowest leaf area and above-ground biomass per light increase among all species. Dipteryx and Vochysia maintained relatively high rates of survival and growth across the entire light gradient. Hyeronima and Virola showed trade-offs between growth and survival responses to light, unlike Dipteryx and Vochysia. Differences among species in seedling survival at low light may be determined by a variety of physiological and morphological traits that may or may not be mechanistically linked to growth responses.

scholarly journals Use of Plastic Shelters for Low-Cost Establishment of Street Trees

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Jones ◽  
A. H. Chappelka ◽  
D. H. West
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Diameter Growth ◽  
Industrial Park ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Urban Settings ◽  
Planting Methods ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
One Year

Abstract One-year-old seedlings of 11 commonly used urban shade tree species were protected with plastic shelters to determine effects on survival and growth. Additional seedlings were planted in the cities of Auburn and Opelika, Alabama, to determine seedling performance in actual urban settings and to estimate incidence of vandalism in five urban settings. Shelters increased survival in four species and height growth in seven. Diameter growth responses were mixed. During the first 13 months after planting, only 3% of the seedlings in the cities were damaged by people. However, 20% of the shelters were vandalized at least once. Vandalism rates for shelters were greatest (37-44%) in neighborhoods of privately and publicly owned homes; intermediate (20%) in recreational parks, and lowest (4-6%) in undeveloped or industrial park areas. Installation of each tree with its shelter cost $2.78 (excluding labor) and required 20-25 minutes of labor. Tree shelters show promise as a low-cost alternative to more expensive planting methods, especially in undeveloped portions of cities. South. J. Appl. For. 20(2):85-89.

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